God Radically Changes Sinners for His Good

Want to know about what’s happening boots on the ground? This is where you’ll find stories, reflections, and what I have been reading on.

Back to Writing

Hello Everyone!
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First, would you pray with us?

• Sion’s ordination exams this month
• The Lilly Endowment Christian initiative grant
• New students and the growth of the ministry
• Sneakers and her openness to the Gospel
• Provision of godly men for the work if the grant comes through
• Wisdom as we consider expanding
• Growth of the church

I owe you an apology. Things got away from me. Training Sion, taking care of my family, students, fundraising, grant writing — I got lost in it and completely forgot to write. I’m sorry. That isn’t how I want to treat people who have stood with us.

Things have settled some. Sion is set and has been released onto campus. By the grace of God he will save souls. Between last semester and the summer we went over everything expected of him and figured out how to get him into the work. It’s a little smoother now.

My own role has expanded. I’m writing grants to raise money for the organization, for campus housing, for the church restoration — for all the things we want to do. Before I get too far into that, let me tell you what’s happening this semester, what we’re looking toward in the spring, and what we’re hoping for in 2027.

This semester we have three Bible studies (one women-only), a prayer group, the main meeting, basketball and boxing with a few of the guys, a canoe trip, Applepalooza, dinners, volleyball — a lot of ordinary, good stuff. Sion is ambitious, if not a little crazy. We had events every day from O-Week day one through the end of Welcome Week. I think that’s the first time we’ve ever done that.

We’ve got a dozen or so new students. I want you to meet one of them. Sneakers Hemingway — that’s her nickname — is the kind of student we are here to help. Blue hair, a few tattoos, often on her phone. But if you ask her a question she instantly wants to talk. She’s from Texas, has moved more than twenty times, has lost her parents. She’s been through the ringer. She doesn’t have a whole lot of direction, but she’s drawn to what we’re doing. She binds her chest, wants to get into AI to make a name for herself, and is trying to figure out what life’s purpose is.

She’s the kind of person who is often passed over. I’m really glad she’s coming to church and to the campus ministry. She’s attentive and inquisitive. I look forward to God softening her heart and seeing what He does in this season. It is a glory to get to do this work with students like her.

Here’s some pictures of our events so far:

That’s a picture of the work. Here’s what’s ahead:

I’m meeting with the Haas department chair to try to get two classes taught at Michigan Tech: one on Christianity as a study (in the way they might study mythology) and a one-credit Essential Education class focused on “spiritual health.” As part of our Lilly Endowment application I received a letter of recommendation from Michigan Tech and spent an hour talking with them about what they think students need. What they see is students being overly efficient with one another. They praised groups like ours that try to instill something contrary to that. With that in mind, we’re trying this fall to get a one-credit class students could take by coming to our weekly meetings — or any religious group’s — and receive credit for spiritual formation.

I’m also working on one or two group talks on campus for students who are inquisitive about Christianity. They could submit questions beforehand and I would answer them as a pastor in an open forum, without anyone having to come ask me privately.

We also want to be more present at Michigan Tech — invited to more events, showing up with hot cocoa at the bigger university gatherings.

I’ve continued as hockey chaplain for a fifth season, helping those young men who often can’t make it to church grow in Christ.

We’ve been applying to grants. The largest is the Lilly Endowment Christian initiative grant, which would award $2.2 million to:

• Hire two more ministers/staff
• Hire a secretary
• Provide meals, clothing, and similar help for locals and students at about $90 per person for 100 families/students a month
• Survey and reach out to the local community
• Restore the church sanctuary and roof so we can hold services and conferences
• The down payment on a campus house that could house 14 students at about $375 a month until it’s paid off
• And a number of smaller things

We have lofty goals. People have told me I have big ambitions. Honestly, God has been so faithful it’s hard not to be. We brought in about $80k last year as a ministry. Sion is getting closer to being fully funded. The ministry and the church have continued to grow.

That is because of your sacrifice, your prayers, and your willingness to partner in this work. We praise God for you.

One of my new duties is to pray for each of our supporters. Would you be willing to reply to this email with your birthday so I can put it on a prayer calendar? That’s the simplest way for me not to forget.
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You should start seeing these emails again, probably once a month — an update on how things are, with prayer requests at the beginning.
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P.S. Everyone that gives financially should be receiving a letter (hopefully before November) and photos for your fridge from us. We’re going to try to start having a yearly formal letter.

In Him,
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Brandon Charbonneau
STK Executive Director
Charb@stkmin.org
906-231-6820